North Dakota

Research

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) have only been around since 2006, yet their potential to dramatically reduce the damaging health impacts of traditional cigarettes has garnered significant attention and credibility.

Headlines

State Budget Solutions is tracking the budget shortfalls, as reported by government agencies and governors in every state. Some of these deficits are immediate problems, while others are long term problems that need to be tackled sooner than later.

Research

State Budget Solutions' latest research reveals that state public pension plans are underfunded by $4.7 trillion, up from $4.1 trillion in 2013. Overall, the combined plans' funded status has dipped three percentage points to 36%. Split among all Americans, the unfunded liability is over $15,000 per person.

Gov. John "Jack" DalrympleOffice of Governor John HoevenState Capitol600 East Boulevard Avenue, Department 101Bismarck, ND 58505-0001Phone: (701) 328-2200Fax: (701) 328-2205http://governor.nd.gov/Gov. Dalrymple's State of the State Address delivered on Jan. 4, 2011 can be found here.

Want a more robust, long-term look at your state's fiscal health, beyond the budget? There are two parts: Click here for the FY2012 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report compiled by the state government, and click here for information on the state's pension liabilities.

North Dakota is required to pass a "balanced budget." Article X, Section 13 of the Constitution as amended in 1973 restricts any indebtedness that is "not evidenced by a bond issue." North Dakota law forbids the carrying over of a deficit from one year to the next.

The State has several governmental funds, of which three are considered major individual funds. Those three are the General Fund, the Federal Fund, and the School Permanent Trust Fund. The State budgets on a budgetary basis that differs from those used to present the financial statements in accordance with GAAP. The only major fund with a legally adopted budget is the General Fund. All other funds are budgeted together as "Other Budgeted Funds." [from the Institute for Truth in Accounting]

Higher Education :

HEADLINES

According to NASBO, Kentucky and many other states have put the emphasis on restoring funding to education this year. A still incomplete survey of states showed that the vast majority are increasing elementary and secondary education funding, along with transportation and infrastructure.

HEADLINES

There is disagreement within education circles over whether spending more money per pupil leads to better results. But there is no disagreement that the amount of money states spend on education has erupted in recent years.

Solutions

State Budget Solutions recommends that state legislators take action in 2013 to resolve the serious state financial crises by changing their focus from inputs to outcomes by redesigning budgets from the ground up based on priorities and performance.

Solutions

Supporters of Obamacare claim that expanding Medicaid will entail little to no cost to state governments, since the federal government will fund the vast majority of the additional costs. Indeed, some analyses project states achieving savings from adopting the expansion. However, state lawmakers should be wary of accepting such analyses at face value.

State Budget Solutions' latest research reveals that state public pension plans are underfunded by $4.7 trillion, up from $4.1 trillion in 2013. Overall, the combined plans' funded status has dipped three percentage points to 36%. Split among all Americans, the unfunded liability is over $15,000 per person.

Former Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch, who helped New York City escape bankruptcy 40 years ago, warned Wednesday that the fiscal crisis isn't over in New York and other states, despite election year plans to cut taxes and spend more.

BLOG: State Debt

This year Truth in Accounting celebrates eight states with mothers (and fathers) that have left a responsible financial legacy for their children - Iowa, Tennessee, South Dakota, Nebraska, Utah, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Alaska.

BLOG: Federal Government Impact, Medicaid

One look at the upcoming cases before the Supreme Court and the federal courts of appeal would suggest that states and the national government have a destructively adversarial relationship. Should we be worried about this constant conflict?

Research

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) have only been around since 2006, yet their potential to dramatically reduce the damaging health impacts of traditional cigarettes has garnered significant attention and credibility.

Headlines

State Budget Solutions is tracking the budget shortfalls, as reported by government agencies and governors in every state. Some of these deficits are immediate problems, while others are long term problems that need to be tackled sooner than later.

Research

State Budget Solutions' latest research reveals that state public pension plans are underfunded by $4.7 trillion, up from $4.1 trillion in 2013. Overall, the combined plans' funded status has dipped three percentage points to 36%. Split among all Americans, the unfunded liability is over $15,000 per person.

State Budget Solutions' latest research reveals that state public pension plans are underfunded by $4.7 trillion, up from $4.1 trillion in 2013. Overall, the combined plans' funded status has dipped three percentage points to 36%. Split among all Americans, the unfunded liability is over $15,000 per person.

North Dakota's expenditures from its own general fund - made up of state taxes on income, sales, oil and more - have increased four times over during that dozen years.

North Dakota’s expenditures from its own general fund – made up of state taxes on income, sales, oil and more – have increased four times over during that dozen years. - See more at: http://www.prairiebizmag.com/event/article/id/16711/#sthash.v2Dt1KG4.dpufNorth Dakota's expenditures from its own general fund - made up of state taxes on income, sales, oil and more - have increased four times over during that dozen years.

North Dakota’s expenditures from its own general fund – made up of state taxes on income, sales, oil and more – have increased four times over during that dozen years. - See more at: http://www.prairiebizmag.com/event/article/id/16711/#sthash.v2Dt1KG4.dpuf

North Dakota’s expenditures from its own general fund – made up of state taxes on income, sales, oil and more – have increased four times over during that dozen years. - See more at: http://www.prairiebizmag.com/event/article/id/16711/#sthash.v2Dt1KG4.dpuf